Egyptian Ornithological Rarities Committee

A new report of the Egyptian Ornithological Rarities Committee (EORC) has just been released. It includes assessment and confirmation of the first records for Egypt of Streaked Shearwater Calonectris leucomelas, White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus, Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus, Grey-necked Bunting Emberiza buchanani and Red-headed Bunting Emberiza bruniceps, which are five additions to the category A of the Egyptian list. It also includes the second record of Crested Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus, Red-tailed Wheatear Oenanthe chrysopygia (first record outside the Halaib Triangle) Pied Crow Corvus albus (second to fourth records) and Yellow-throated Sparrow Gymnoris xanthocollis, and the third record of Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos and Black-throated Thrush Turdus atrogularis.

The updated checklist of the Birds of Egypt now includes 463 species: 448 in category A (including 6 species observed only in the Halaib Triangle), 9 in category B and 6 in category C. The 5th EORC report and the updated list of the birds of Egypt are available at: http://www.chn-france.com/eorc/eorc.php?id_content=5

Currently, the EORC will start review and voting on a new set of recent and dated reports that need assessment, including several potential first for Egypt, for a 6th report. We therefore ask observers to submit their reports of rarities, even if they concern birds observed in previous years. The list of rare species considered by the EORC and a form to submit rarity records are available at: http://www.chn-france.com/eorc/eorc.php?id_content=1

We do hope to receive your support and your reports on rare birds in Egypt!

Frédéric Jiguet & Lukasz Lawicki (secretaries), Sherif Baha El Din (chairman) on behalf of the EORC